The Taliban has been using a UK-based website to raise cash to fund terror atrocities against Western targets.

Fanatics who saw pleas for cash on the site could donate money which was then filtered through two safe houses operated by militants in Karachi, ­Pakistan, one of the terror network’s main bases.

The Sunday Mirror investigation ­reveals how easily terror groups can raise cash to pay for their Jihad (holy war).

It comes amid reports that Taliban and Al Qaeda chiefs have ordered an urgent fund­raising ­drive to top up their dwindling reserves.

The Taliban issued its own plea for cash last week on a website called the Islamic Emirate of ­Afghanistan ­Financial Commission.

Our investigators found the site’s domain name was registered with London-based UK2 Group Ltd, one of the country’s leading web hosts.

The fundraising site ­contained leadership ­statements from ­Taliban chiefs.

It also ­carried ­speeches which claim ­responsibility for the deaths of British and coalition troops in gun and bomb attacks. The plea for funding was on the front page of the site.

Militants: A masked fighter from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's military wing (Image: Getty)

It says: “Monetary aid and donation to officials may be used to meet the requirements of Jihad.”

Posing as a supporter, a Sunday ­Mirror investigator emailed the website ­offering to donate money. Our reporter was given bank details of an account ­money could be sent to using Western Union as well as two ­addresses in Karachi that cash could be posted to.

Security chiefs regularly monitor websites used by fanatics. But because the individuals behind them rarely use their real identities it is virtually ­impossible to track down them down.

Yesterday terrorism expert Neil Doyle said: “Despite financial sanctions, it seems that there are numerous ways to get money to them electronically, which is quick, easy and can be done anonymously.”

Last night UK2 Group thanked the Sunday Mirror for making it aware of the site and quickly took it offline.